NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III hasn’t forgiven Jay Gruden for the way Griffin’s tenure in Washington ended.
Griffin, also known by his nickname RGIII, was one of the most important pieces during Washington’s 2012 season, as the signal-caller led his team to a postseason berth with a 10-6 overall record.
The first game of the postseason would prove pivotal for Griffin in the worst of ways, as Griffin suffered a serious knee injury.
After a tough 2013 season, Washington hired Gruden to get both the team and Griffin back on track. That didn’t happen and things were eventually handed over to Kirk Cousins.
After not seeing the field for the entire 2015 season, Griffin left Washington for the Browns.
Griffin feuded with Gruden on Monday, as the two caused quite a stir on social media during the Eagles’ 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers.
Robert Griffin III reacts to Jay Gruden’s tweet
Gruden and Griffin had a difficult relationship in Washington, according to reports. And now that’s even more public.
During the postseason between the Eagles and Buccaneers, Gruden took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and posted: “If I ever put a QB through what Philly is putting Jalen through, I apologize. Pick up a blitz!
To that, Griffin responded “Say what?” with a photo of him looking through his glasses disapprovingly.
To say that??? https://t.co/TAHWqvDoce pic.twitter.com/mnuh9VafCz
-Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 16, 2024
Gruden snapped back, seeming to point out Griffin’s work ethic, saying, “Weren’t you prepared, Robert?”
It didn’t take long for Griffin to respond to that: “You told me you didn’t know how to coach a QB who could throw and run like me, so it looks like you weren’t prepared, Jay.”
You told me you didn’t know how to coach a QB who could throw and run like me, so it looks like you weren’t ready, Jay. https://t.co/hrcZFXISkk pic.twitter.com/qiikYkFkpq
—Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 16, 2024
Regardless of which side you’re on, there’s no denying that there is unfinished business (and perhaps always will be) between these two.
Neither man’s time in Washington ended well. Gruden was fired after failing to win five games in the 2019 season. Gruden served five and a half seasons as Washington’s head coach, going 35-49-1 during that period with the team.